U.S. patent number 5,801,357 [Application Number 08/758,368] was granted by the patent office on 1998-09-01 for electric barbecue with rotisserie.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SEB S.A.. Invention is credited to Marc Danen.
United States Patent |
5,801,357 |
Danen |
September 1, 1998 |
Electric barbecue with rotisserie
Abstract
An electric barbecue with rotisserie comprises a frame, a kettle
placed on the frame, a resistive electric heater element and a
rotary spit. A motor driving the spit is housed in a unit fixed to
the frame. A drive arrangement connects the motor to the spit. The
unit includes electrical connections to supply power to the
element. A single cable is connected to an external power supply to
supply power to the connection system and the motor.
Inventors: |
Danen; Marc (Albens,
FR) |
Assignee: |
SEB S.A. (Ecully Cedex,
FR)
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Family
ID: |
9484966 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/758,368 |
Filed: |
November 29, 1996 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 28, 1995 [FR] |
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95 14091 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
219/403;
126/25AA; 219/386; 219/404; 99/421H |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
37/0745 (20130101); A47J 37/0709 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
37/07 (20060101); A47J 037/07 (); A47J 037/04 ();
F24L 007/06 (); H05B 003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;219/385,386,388,403,404,521 ;99/419,421H,421R
;126/25AA,25R,9B,9R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1462088 |
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Dec 1966 |
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FR |
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2 299 785 |
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Aug 1976 |
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FR |
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30 00 653 |
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Jul 1981 |
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DE |
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1522639 |
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Aug 1978 |
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GB |
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2 083 343 |
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Mar 1982 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Walberg; Teresa J.
Assistant Examiner: Pelham; J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young & Thompson
Claims
There is claimed:
1. An electric barbecue with rotisserie comprising a frame, a
kettle placed on the frame, electric heater means, at least one
spit rotated by an electric motor housed in a unit fixed to said
frame and further comprising electric connection means adapted to
supply electric power to said electric heater means, and a single
power supply cable adapted to be connected to an external electric
power supply and to supply power to said connection means and said
motor, wherein said unit comprises on a top face a recessed portion
adapted to accommodate removably a part of a handle fixed to one
end of said spit, said recessed portion having an opening through
it in line with drive means housed in said unit and said handle of
said spit incorporating complementary drive means adapted to be
inter-engaged with said drive means when said handle is housed in
said recessed portion, and wherein said unit comprises on said top
face a housing adapted to receive removably a connection end of
said electric heater means.
2. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric
connection means project from a bottom face of said unit and an
electric cable is adapted to connect said connection end to said
connection means.
3. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 1 wherein said heater
means comprise a substantially plane resistive electric element,
said connection end pivoting in said housing between at least two
operating positions in which said plane is respectively horizontal
and vertical.
4. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection
end includes safety members movable between an on position and an
off position in which the supply of electric power to said heater
means is cut off, said housing on said unit comprising safety means
adapted to displace said safety members into said on position when
said heater means are placed on said unit in a normal operating
position.
5. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame
includes a removable support projecting above said frame, one edge
of said kettle resting on said support, said heater means resting
on said frame and said unit and said spit resting on said unit and
said kettle.
6. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 5 wherein said kettle has
on an interior face a shoulder adapted to support a cooking grill,
said shoulder projecting, when said kettle is resting on said
support, in a horizontal plane including a second edge of said
kettle opposite said edge resting on said support.
7. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 5 wherein a lid adapted
to cover said kettle is pivotally fixed to said support.
8. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is
made from an insulative plastics material.
9. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is
removably mounted on said frame.
10. The electric barbecue claimed in claim 5 wherein said unit is
fixed to one end of said frame, said support resting on one side of
said frame perpendicular to said end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns an electric barbecue with a
rotisserie.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many barbecues are equipped with spit turners that rotate the food
near a heater element during cooking.
The spit usually has a fixed handle at one end coupled to a fixed
or removable electric motor.
Moving the spit is difficult because of the additional weight of
the motor at one end and introduces the risk of burns or of
dropping the cooked food. It is not infrequent for the motor to be
damaged or mislaid if it is removable.
Electric barbecues have a power supply for the resistive electric
element type heating means. This element is generally within a
kettle, under a cooking grill.
The combination of the kettle, the grill and the element can in
some cases pivot on the frame between a horizontal position and a
vertical position.
Using the rotisserie with the element in the horizontal position
generates excessive smoke due to carbonization of grease falling
onto the heater element and using it with the element in the
vertical position prevents simultaneous use of the grill and
recovery of debris and cooking juices in the kettle.
Document DE 30 00 653 describes an electric barbecue with
rotisserie in which the heater means and the spit are electrically
connected to a common unit attached to the barbecue frame. However,
the heater elements and the connection unit are not removable,
which makes it difficult to clean the frame and the kettle of the
barbecue. This aspect is particularly important when cooking food
on the spit, when there is considerable splashing of grease and
juice onto the walls of the kettle and the frame.
An aim of the present invention is to resolve the aforementioned
disadvantages by proposing a barbecue that is simpler to use and
that offers better user protection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists in an electric barbecue with rotisserie
comprising a frame, a kettle placed on the frame, electric heater
means, at least one spit rotated by an electric motor housed in a
unit fixed to said frame and further comprising electric connection
means adapted to supply electric power to said electric heater
means, and a single power supply cable adapted to be connected to
an external electric power supply and to supply power to said
connection means and said motor, wherein said unit comprises on a
top face a recessed portion adapted to accommodate removably a part
of a handle fixed to one end of said spit, said recessed portion
having an opening through it in line with drive means housed in
said unit and said handle of said spit incorporating complementary
drive means adapted to be inter-engaged with said drive means when
said handle is housed in said recessed portion, and wherein said
unit comprises on said top face a housing adapted to receive
removably a connection end of said electric heater means.
Fitting the heater means and the spit is thus facilitated by the
housings provided on the top face of the unit. The user can easily
fit or remove the heater means, in particular when cleaning the
kettle or the grill.
Positioning the spit on the barbecue is also facilitated by the
recessed part provided on the top of the unit. Thanks to the
complementary drive means carried by the unit and the spit,
inter-engagement of the motor and the spit does not require any
manipulation other than that of placing the spit on the recessed
part with the drive means meshing through the opening in the
unit.
This produces an electric barbecue with removable spit and heater
means that can easily be removed and replaced, which facilitates
cleaning the kettle.
Additionally, this implementation also enables a connection unit to
be designed that forms an integral unit removable from the frame to
which it is fixed.
The electrical components required for operation of the barbecue
can be insulated and separated from the frame and the kettle when
cleaning the barbecue.
In a preferred version of the invention, the electric connection
means project from a bottom face of said unit and an electric cable
is adapted to connect the connection end to the connection
means.
The electrical cable connecting the heater means to the unit is
protected from soiling and splashing of liquids by being disposed
under the unit.
In one advantageous version of the invention, the frame includes a
removable support projecting above the frame, one edge of the
kettle resting on the support, the hater means resting on the frame
and the unit and the spit resting on the unit and the kettle.
In this way the kettle can be inclined on the frame independently
of the heater means or the spit. It can therefore be used as a
windshield during cooking of food outdoors and debris and cooking
juice can be recovered in the kettle.
Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge further
from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of
non-limiting example:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the barbecue
of the invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-section views of the barbecue with a
kettle respectively horizontal and inclined.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the operating
principle of the rotisserie of the electric barbecue.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotisserie from FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the positioning of the heater
means on a barbecue of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing the
connection of the heater means in a first position.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6 with the heater
means in a second position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, an electric barbecue has a frame 2 and a
removable kettle 3 that can be placed on the frame 2. The latter
has a substantially rectangular platform delimited by two ends 21
and 22 and by two longitudinal sides 24 and 25.
This platform includes an opening 27 to accommodate the kettle
3.
Tubular resistive electric heater elements 6 shown in FIG. 7 and a
rotisserie spit 8 shown in FIG. 3 are also part of the
barbecue.
In accordance with the invention, the spit 8 is rotated by an
electric motor 52 housed in a unit 5 fixed to the frame.
In the event of accidental overloading or poor balancing of the
spit 8, the motor 52 can be restarted in the opposite
direction.
Drive means 51, 82 connect the motor 52 to the spit 8.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spit 8 comprises drive means 82
adapted to inter-engage with complementary drive means 51 housed in
the unit 5.
In this embodiment, the drive means comprise two toothed wheels 82,
51 that mesh with each other.
One wheel 51 is rotated by the motor 52 inside the unit 5. The
latter has a window opening 55 through its top face 5a, in line
with the toothed wheel 51.
The spit 8 has at one end a handle 81, generally attached in a
non-removable way, and having a toothed wheel 82 at its
periphery.
The unit 5 comprises on a top face 5a slightly above the platform
of the frame 2 a recessed portion 54 adapted to house at least part
of the handle 81 on the spit 8. The top face 5a forms a lid
assembled to the unit 5 containing the motor 52 and the toothed
wheel 51.
The toothed wheel 82 on the spit 8 is then in line with the toothed
wheel 51 in the unit 5, which is in the window 55.
The recessed portion 54 is extended towards the kettle by a groove
54a designed to house the spit 8 projecting from the handle 81.
Bearings 26a and 26b are provided at each side of the kettle to
support the spit 8 as it rotates. The spit has portions 85 of
smaller cross-section that fit in the bearing 26a and 26b.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pointed end of the spit is protected by a
second handle 83 that is removable to enable food to be placed on
and removed from the spit 8.
The handle 83 may be equipped with a guard 84 protecting the user
when placing it on the pointed end of the spit 8.
It is therefore a very simple matter to install the spit 8 on the
barbecue: all that is required is to place it on the bearings 26a
and 26b and the recessed part 54 of the unit, ensuring that the two
toothed wheels 82, 51 line up.
A switch 53 operated by an on/off button 54 on the unit controls
the supply of electrical power to the motor 52 and thus the
rotation of the spit. A power supply cable 59 adapted to be
connected to an external power source supplies power to the motor
52.
The unit 5 preferably comprises separate housings 52a, 51a for the
motor 52 and for the toothed wheel 51. A single opening is provided
through which the shaft of the motor 52 passes towards the center
of the toothed wheel 51.
Accordingly, if liquid enters the unit via the window 55 it does
not come into contact with the motor or the electrical power supply
system. Holes may be provided in the bottom of the housing 51a for
the toothed wheel 51 to enable this liquid to escape.
In operation, the spit 8 rests on the bearing 26a on the kettle 3
at the opposite end from the unit 5 and is guided by the bearing
26b on the kettle. The spit 8 also rests on the toothed wheel
51.
When the spit 8 is rotated, it abuts against one or other of the
guide surfaces of the bearing 26b. Once abutted with these
surfaces, the combination of the spit 8 and the handles 81 and 83
is rotated.
The tooth on the toothed wheel 82 enter far enough into the window
55 of the unit 5 to be supported by and to mesh with the toothed
wheel 51.
As shown in FIG. 6, the unit 5 further comprises electrical
connection means 63 adapted to supply electric power to the
electric heater means 6.
The connections means 63, similar to a socket outlet, are supplied
with power by the power supply cable 59.
The unit 5 has on its top face 5a a housing 56 adapted to receive a
connection end 61 of the electric heater means 6.
In this example the housing 56 is substantially cylindrical in
shape and the connection end 61 of the heater means 6 has a
complementary cylindrical shape.
As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the electrical connection means 63 open
onto the bottom face of the unit and are therefore protected from
splashing with juice or food during cooking. The electric
connection means 63 comprise a socket into which is inserted a plug
62a connected by an electric cable 62 to the connection end 61.
The heating means preferably comprise a tubular resistive electric
heater element 6 extending substantially in a plane. The ends of
the element 6 are electrically connected at the connection end 61.
The latter pivots in the housing 56 of the unit 5 between at least
two operating positions in which the plane containing the element 6
is respectively horizontal and vertical. These two positions are
shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, respectively. The connection end is
pivoted 90.degree. between these two positions.
A handle 67 is also fixed to the element 6, at the end opposite the
connection end 61. The frame 2 incorporates a bearing 28 adapted to
support the handle 67 at the end 22 opposite the end 21 supporting
the unit 5.
The plane of the element being offset vertically relative to the
axis of the connection end, two horizontal positions can be
defined: a bottom position in which the element is under a cooking
grill and a top position, the connection end being pivoted
180.degree. between these two positions.
The connection end 61 includes an opening 64 through which the
electric power supply cable 62 exits. In this example the opening
64 is in the cylindrical flank of the connection end 61. It could
equally well be at the end of the latter.
The unit 5 preferably comprises a notch 56a aligned with the
housing 56 for the power supply cable 62 from the connection end 61
to pass through.
The latter further includes safety members 65 movable between an
"on" position and an "off" position in which the electrical power
supply to the heater mean 6 is cut off, the housing 56 of the unit
5 comprising safety means 58 adapted to move the safety members 65
into said "on" position when the heater means 6 are disposed on the
unit 5 in a normal operating position.
In a way that is known in itself, the safety members 65 may
comprise a rotary cam spring-loaded into the "off" position.
The safety means comprise projections 57 adapted to displace the
rotary cam against said spring-loading into the "on" position when
the connection end 61 is placed in the housing 56 in a normal
operating position.
In this example, the housing 56 has two projections 57 at
90.degree. to each other, displacing the safety cam 65 when the
element is vertical or horizontal.
To facilitate positioning the cylindrical connection end 61 in the
cylindrical housing 56 and to hold the element 6 in place, notches
66 and complementary profiles 58 are respectively provided on the
surface of the connection end and inside the housing 56.
Similar notches and profiles may also be provided on the handle 67
and the bearing 28 on the frame 2.
The connection end 61 comprises a series of notches 66 disposed in
a circle at the periphery of the connection end 61. A series of
straight notches could instead be provided on the peripheral
surface. Positioning the connection end 61 on the unit 5 is
therefore facilitated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of
the connection end 61.
The unit 5 is removably mounted on the frame 2 of the barbecue 1.
It can be clipped to the frame 2 at one end 21 of the latter, for
example. It is preferably made of an insulative plastics material
to prevent electric shock hazard. Additionally, the unit 5 protects
the user against injury by the drive system.
The frame 2 includes a removable support 4 higher than the frame 2.
One edge 32 of the kettle 3 rests on the support 4, the heater
means 6 resting on the frame 2 and the unit 5 and the spit 8 on the
unit 5 and the kettle 3 via the bearings 26a and 26b.
The kettle can therefore be inclined independently of the spit 8
and the element 6, to form a windshield. Thus the bearings 26a and
26b are substantially in line with the recessed portion 54 when the
kettle 3 is inclined to support the spit 8. The support 4 rests on
one side 25 of the frame 2 perpendicular to the ends 21.
It has two ends 4a respectively inserted in the unit 5 and in the
bearing 28 on the frame 2 when the support 4 is fitted and a
portion 4b, 4c extending above the frame and resting one
longitudinal side 25 of the frame 2.
This portion 4b, 4c is substantially C-shaped, the core 4b of the
C-shape resting on the frame 2 and the wings 4c extending
substantially vertically above the frame 2.
The kettle 3 has on an inside face a shoulder 31 adapted to support
a cooking grill 7. When the kettle 3 is resting on the support 4,
the shoulder 31 projects in a horizontal plane including a second
edge 33 of the kettle 3, opposite the edge 32 resting on the
support 4.
In the horizontal position of the kettle 3 the cooking grill 7
therefore rests on the edges 32 and 33 of the latter; it is held
horizontally on the shoulder 31 inside the kettle 3 even when the
latter is inclined. The distance between the edge 32 and the
shoulder 31 is substantially equal to the height to which the
kettle 3 is raised above the frame 2, i.e. the length of the
perpendicular wings 4c of the support 4.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the kettle 3 can be covered by a lid 9. The
lid 9 is pivotally fixed, for example by hinges, to the support 4
so that it can be removed when the kettle 3 is horizontal. The lid
9 has a handle 9a for manipulating it.
In the embodiment described hereinabove the barbecue has two main
modes of operation: a rotisserie mode with the kettle 3 inclined,
the spit 8 resting on the kettle 3 and the unit 5, the element 6
vertical and the lid on the hinges of the support 4, and a barbecue
mode with the kettle 3 horizontal and the element horizontal above
or below the cooking grill.
Of course, many modifications may be made to the embodiment
described above without departing from the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *